Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-15

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The first table below shows changes in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables show changes in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 7.5)

The given tables illustrate how the population of New York city as a whole and its five districts (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island) changed between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, it is readily apparent that there was a dramatic surge in the city's population. It is also notable that while Manhattan initially held the overwhelming majority of the total residents, its proportion gradually declined as people became more evenly distributed across the other regions.

In 1800, New York City had only over 79,000 residents, with Manhattan alone housing approximately 60,500 people, or 76% of the total. The other four districts were sparsely populated, collectively accommodating fewer than 19,000 people.

A hundred years later, the city had undergone substantial demographic expansion, with the population soaring to roughly 3.5 million. Meanwhile, although Manhattan's inhabitants rose considerably to around 1.85 million, its share of the city's total fell to 54%, while a surge to 46% was observed in the combined population of the four remaining districts.

By 2000, New York's residents reached over 8 million. However, Manhattan witnessed a slight decrease in population to approximately 1,54 million, representing just 19% of the total. Meanwhile, the combined inhabitants of the other districts rocketed to over 6.4 million, accounting for 81%, reflecting a major shift in population distribution within the city.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the significant shift in distribution from Manhattan to the other districts. The data is well-selected, and the comparisons between the years 1800, 1900, and 2000 are clear and accurate. You have provided a strong overview that highlights the key demographic changes, which is essential for a high band score. The information is logically grouped, and the inclusion of percentages adds depth to your analysis, demonstrating a clear understanding of the data provided in the tables.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the introduction to the overview, and then to specific time periods. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'However', and 'In 1800' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next. There is a clear sense of structure, and the relationship between the total population and the individual districts is consistently maintained throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report, such as 'dramatic surge', 'demographic expansion', 'sparsely populated', and 'rocketed'. The use of these terms is precise and enhances the quality of the writing. There is only one minor error in the number format ('1,54 million' should be '1.54 million'), but this does not impede communication. The vocabulary is varied and demonstrates a good level of control, allowing for a natural and sophisticated description of the trends shown in the tables.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('while Manhattan initially held...', 'as people became more evenly distributed...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation and tense is strong. The grammatical structures used are accurate and contribute to the clarity of the report. While there is a minor punctuation error with the decimal point in '1,54 million', the overall grammatical accuracy is high, and the range of structures is sufficient to support a high band score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.